Pipe protection machine



ct. I9, 954 1, D, CUMMlNGS ET AL A 2,692,006

PIPE PROTECTION MACHINE Filed Jan. 26 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l @du iig, w54 J. D. CUMMHNGS ET AL,

PIPE PROTECTION MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25. 1950 James ummings iwi L www Patented Oct. 19, 1954 PIPE PROTECTION MACHINE James D. Cummings and Irvin L. Jones, Houston, Tex., assignors to Johns-Mauvile Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York, and Crutcher-Roifs-Cummings, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application January 26, 1950, Serial No. 140,591

Claims.

This invention relates to pipe protection machines, and is an improvement of prior Patent No. 2,359,751, granted October 10, 1944, and of copending patent application Serial No. 36,689, filed July 2, 1948, now Patent No. 2,583,819. More particularly the invention deals with a machine for applying a corrosion resistant kcoating on the outside of a conduit such as a continuous line of piping and wherein the coating is applied by spreading a hot tarry substance on the pipe followed by one or more helical wrapping of binder strip such as felt and/ or heavy paper.

It is an object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine which has features thereon adapted to permit an infinitely accurate control of the wrapping thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class in which the wrapping conti-ol device is conveniently located for manual manipulation by an operator who is in a position, at the same time, to closely observe the application of the wrapping material about the pipe.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class which has means thereon to apply heated coating material to the pipe area which will first be wrapped when a stopped machine resumes operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class which has substantially diametrioally opposed pairs of wrapping heads thereon with adjacent heads extending different distances from the wrapping ring on which they are mounted.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class which has pipe engaging wheels thereon of a plastic composition so as to grip the pipe without injuring the wall thereof.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class which has an easily manipulated ratchet actuated shoe adjustment device thereon.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class which has a ratchet-operated means thereon for adjusting the contact of the traction wheels with the lower side of the pipe being processed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class which has lines connected to the coating shoe and crossed thereabove and extending upward over pulley means on the frame to a pawl and ratchet tightening device; there being a spring in the line to lend yieldability thereto,

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a pipe protection machine of this class in which the traction wheels on the under side of the pipe are positively driven.

Other and further objects of this invention will be obvious when the specification is considered in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine taken on the side opposite that shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view of a traction wheel of the Inachine;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

In present conventional pipe protection machines, any variation from a co-ordinated balance between the speed with which the pipe moves through a stationary machine, or the speed with which the machine moves along the pipe, and the speed with which the wrapping ring of the wrapping head rotates, may result in an uneven application of wrapping material supplied to the pipe by the wrapping heads which are rotatable with the wrapping ring. This variation or over-balance of speeds between the ring and the longitudinal movement of the pipe, or machine, as the case may be, will cause an uneven application of wrapping material to the pipe and will result in an undesired overlap of one layer of wrapping material over the other in machines of the double-wrap, single-coat type herein disclosed.

Also, in conventional machines it has been found that when a machine is stopped in service for some reason, and then started up again after the coating material between the coating shoe and the last wrapped area of the pipe has had time to cool, the wrapping material first applied when the machine resumes operation will not bind or adhere to the coated pipe, as in cases where the pipe surface next to be wrapped may receive a fresh application of heated coating material thereon.

Additionally, in conventional machines of the double-wrap class, which may apply two diiferent types of wrapping material, as felt and as ber glass, it is of importance to maintain a balanced and uniform overlap of the materials applied, but such cannot be done when there is not a definite synchronization between the speed at which the machine drive develops traction and the speed at which the wrapping ring rotates. Also, even in a synchronized machine, the longitudinal progress of the machine along the pipe may be slowed down as when it goes uphill, and this will result in more than the ordinary amount of overlap between the layers of material.

It has also been found that the metallic wheels heretofore employed in pipe protection machines tend to score or injure the surface of the pipe being processed, and traction wheels have been sought which will bring about relative motion between the machine and the pipe being processed without scoring or in any way injuring the pipe.

It has also been an objection to conventional machines of this class that heretofore no means has been definitely provided whereby thel operator of the machine may adjust the coating shoe about the machine from his position on the operators platform.

Additionally, conventional machines have not heretofore had the wheels on the under side of the ypipe retractably mounted while driven by a positive driving means.

`The objections hereinabove listed are sought to..be remedied in this invention, which includes a pipe protection machine Y| having a frame 2 on which is mounted a prime mover 3, as a gasoline engine. The engine has a shaft 4, which, through a V-belt 5, drives a transmission A6, which in turn operates through a right-angle drive I to drive pumping means 3, which transfers fluid from a sump 9 through a header l0 into a coating shoe ||l which surrounds the pipe and which is connected by turnbuckle and chain means I3v tothe frame at 1.4.

The shaft 4 also drives transmission I4, and this transmission, through suitablel sprocket, chain, and shaft arrangement vl5, drives the transmission |46, which is Yof the infinitely variable speed type. This transmission t6, in tur-n, through suitable sprockets, chains, and `shafts l1, drives the sprocket I8, whichY meshes with the sprocket rim of the wrapping ring lil-to drive the ring around within the ring housing 25.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the transmission |55 has.

at its side vconveniently available to the operator a ratio setting control lever or handle by which the rotational speed transmitted may be varied for manually regulating theA travel of the rotating ring I9 in relation to the forwardtravel ofthe machine.

The wrapping ring` i9 carries wrapping heads 2|, 22, 23, and-24. These heads are mounted on shafts 25, which are pivotally mountedat 26` on the` ring I9.; the shafts having conventional locking means 2'!v thereon by which they may be rigidly locked after being pivoted to adesired angle. As shown most clearly inFig. l, the wrapping head. 2|V is Vlocated closer to the wrapping ring I9 than is the wrapping head 22; and in operation the heada, containing the material drums 29 and 30 thereon, unwind the drum material at different angles so that, for instance. aA

drum 2i!` of a material, as fiber glass, may receive thereon a wrapping materiahsnch as, p aper or felt, which follows along after the leading drum 29v at a desired angle of rotation.

feature, bywhich alternate drums are spaced4 at different-, distances from. the` wrapping ring 19, `and by Which/their shafts 25 may be Set, at various angles to the faceoi the ring i9, determines the overlap of one material over the other.

It is noticeable that the heads 23 and 24 are spaced, respectively, diametrically opposite the heads 2| and 22, and that each pair of diametrically opposed heads is closely spaced with respect to the other head of its individual pair, so that any small angle, as, say 30, is intercepted by lines extending from the head axes to the center of the pipe being processed. This angle of 30, however, is not a` critical angle, and the heads will work on the same principle, but with lesser efficiency, as the angle between the heads of each pair approaches In practice, the machine may apply a double composition wrap to a coated pipe, as, for instance, in sequence, a layer of fiber glass imposed over a layer of coating material, followed by a layer of felt over the ber glass, followed by a second layer of fiber glass over the felt, and finally a second layer of felt over the top fiber glass layer. 'I'his type of processing may be rapidly applied by machines of the type of this invention, since the adjacent heads, are relatively close .together in paired relationship, and since alternate heads are apart, and these featuresV combined with other yfeatures of adjustment make it possible to insure proper pitch of the wrap and proper overlap.

In cases where it may be necessary to stop a machine during processing, and then start the machine again, an auxiliary ring 3| is provided for applying a primer coat. This ring 3| is connected by handles 39, to rods 32 which slide within the pipes 33l on the frame 2.

A hose 34 is connected to the ring 3| and4 to the valve 35 within the sump 9 so that the pumping system 8 may pick up fluid from the sump and supply it through the connection 3G, valve 35, and hose 34 tothe ring 3 |1 from which it mayy be spread outwardly through nozzles 3,1 to .coat the pipe surface between the shoe and the point on the pipe at which the wrapping previously terminated.

The apron 40 is provided to receive the dripped coating material, when the ring is extended as shown by the dotted lines in` Figi. 1, and both the apron 4|) and the larger apron 4| receive the dripped coating material from the pipe when the ring 3| is not in use and is pushed pack within the housing 20.

The traction for the .machine is obtained| by suitable sprockets, chains, and shafts` '5| which are driven by Vtransmission I4, and which in turn.-

, drive .the upper traction wheels45. Traction isv also imparted to the lowerl wheels 55, of" simi.-rk lar composition to the wheels 4.5, by meansy ofi suitable sprockets, shafts, chains, and bearingsV 54, which drive the speed reducer 5,6,.which. in turn, through a suitable transmission 55| of sprockets, chains, shafts, and bearings, immediately drives these lower traction Wheels. The` shaft 58 of the transmission 5'lxisgmounted on,

brackets59, which are rigidlyconnected to the sump 9 and whichextendthereabove. From; the

shaft v58the varms 5| extend forwardly therefrom,

and are pivoted thereon, andV these amis out?. wardly have the shaft 62 journaledtherein, which shaft has thereon the lower traction, wheels,5.5, Each arm 6| terminates in a stud64, over which;

is slid a bracket 5 3, Whichis V,connected,by-means of springs .66. to a pulley bracket 61,011 which is mounted a pulley 6,8.

Inwardly a line 'i0 is connected into a lug on the frame 2, and outwardly theI line '|0- extends around a pulley druml I3 mounted, onand4 extending below the frame v2, which hasa ratchet 'I4 .onA the shaft thereof sothat a ,pawl15 pivotally mounted thereabove on thegside,A ofthe frame 2 may contact the ratchet teeth 16. Thus when the arm or lever 'I1 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. the line is wound up on the drum pulley 'I3 to increase the tension or pull of the springs 68 on the arms 6I to move them upwardly thereby bringing the wheels 55 into tighter gripping contact with a pipe being processed. This may also be done initially to grip a pipe which may be of smaller diameter than the last pipe which the wheels have finished transferring.

It has been found desirable in machines of this type to provide an easy means of adjusting the fitting of the segment shoe Il, which applies the coating to the pipe. This is accomplished by cable means as the lines 18, which are connected to the shoe and cross thereabove and extend upwardly over pulleys 19A, mounted on the frame 2, as shown in Fig. 2, and over pulleys 19, which are mounted on the bracing 80 of the frame 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The line on each side is then connected to a semicircular plate 8|.

Each plate at 82 has a part of the cable means comprising a line 83, connected thereto which extends over a pulley 84, also mounted on the bracing 80. Each line 83, in turn, has a tension spring 94 therein, and extends at the forward end of the machine over a pulley 85 mounted on the bracing 80, and down to a winch drum 86, which has thereon the ratchet 87 and the handle 88.

The line 83 is wound around the winch drum 85, and when the handle 8B is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the operator, as shown in Fig. 1, the line 83 is wound up further on the winch drum 88 so that the pawl 89, pivotally mounted on the frame 2 above the mounting thereon of the winch drum 86, may make contact with the teeth 9i) of the ratchet 8l.

This arrangement provides a novel means of positively tightening and adjusting the shoe around the pipe, and such adjustment may be accomplished by an operator on the frame above the pipe, or by one standing on the ground. The gradient of adjustment is such that the proper tightness of shoe around the pipe may be constantly maintained, while at the same time limited resilience exists in the tting to permit the accommodation of irregularities in pipe diameter.

The pumping means 8 or uid transfer system of this invention comprises a pump 9| on the forward side of the sump 9, which picks up fluid, as bitumen or asphalt, from an exterior source, as through the line 92, which flexibly connects to a portable tank, not shown, and discharges this fluid out through the line 93 into the sump 9. A pump 95 on the forward side of the sump opposite the pump 9i, as shown in Fig. 3, picks up fluid from the sump by means of the line 91 and discharges it through the line 98, header I0, and spout 99, into the top i90 of the shoe Il. An accumulator IDI, which also serves as a bubble trap and vent, is provided as an extension of the header l0 above the spout 99.

The fact that the pumps are positively driven by the right-angle drive 1, and from the transmissions 6, insures that a variable amount of coating uid may be applied to the pipe, and provides an accurate and positive control of its distribution.

As it has been found that metal wheels, as steel wheels, will score or injure a pipe being processed, it has become necessary to provide a wheel of some plastic or fabricated material which is sumciently hard to grasp the pipe surface to move along the pipe and deliver adequate traction and yet which will not mar or score the pipe. This invention considers a composition traction wheel 45 comprised of layers 46 of a plastic or fabric material held together between plates 4'1 and 48, as by the bolts 49; the Wheels being threadable upon the shaft 50 so that they may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to ride pipes of various diameter.

Obviously, as shown in the drawings, the layers must be tapered, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to graps an adequate arc of the periphery of the pipe. Each layer 46, and also the assembly of layers, are of frusto-conical shape. The weight of the machine supported upon the wheels, and the resiliency of the material thereof which contacts the pipe, obviously conform the periphery of the wheels to substantially the curvature of the pipe to accomplish satisfactory traction.

To avoid possible confusion the feature of construction is pointed out by which the lines '18, as shown in Fig. 1, extend directly upward to the pulleys 19, whereas the lines '18, on the opposite side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 3, extend through the osetting tubes H8 and then to the pulleys 19, thereby avoiding interference with the traction elements 5I and 54, as they are shown located in this figure.

'I'his invention broadly considers an improved pipe protection machine which is adapted to accurately and positively control the coating and wrapping of pipe processed thereby by providing a novel wrapping head arrangement; a novel infinitely variable speed control unit at a point where the operator may closely observe the wrapping operation as he manually operates the control handle at will and independently or" power transmission for machine travel; and a novel and easily manipulated arrangement whereby the coating shoe may be accurately and easily adjusted to encircle pipe. This invention also considers a means of applying a primer coat by means of an auxiliary spray ring so as to insure bonding of wrapping material to the coated pipe when the machine is rst started up. It further considers traction wheels which are of a material not adapted to score or mar the pipe; and it considers lower pipe gripping wheels of this type which are positively driven while being pivotallv mounted and adjustable.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for applying protective materials to pipe comprising, a frame, upper traction Wheels mounted on said frame for driving engagement with the upper side of said pipe, a lever mounted on said frame, lower traction wheels carried by said lever, a spring joined at one end to said lever, line means connected to the other end of said spring, a line wind-up drum journalled in said frame, ratchet and pawl means co-operating with said drum, an operating handle to rotate said drum to draw said lower traction wheels upwardly into yieldably locked driving engagement with the lower side of said pipe, means connected to said frame for applying protective materials to said pipe, and power means mounted on said frame and connected to drive said protective materials applying means and said upper and lower traction wheels.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said materials applying means includes a wrapping head rotatably surrounding said pipe to apply overlapping layers of wrapping material thereto, a hollow spray ring surrounding said amamos pipe with spray.nozzleszdirecteditoward thepzpe, rod'meanszslida'ble in` saidrameamd .connected Kto support said ring fior travel to4 s and fron` in zrelaff tiomto saidhead, a pump'ito supplyfpipefcoating liquid anda exible. connection between said. ring and Isaid'. pump .to accommodate to eand :fro "travel .ofisaidringwhile transmittingssprayfliquid there@` .3i Azmachine asclaimeddn claim 1 inwhich said materials applying .meansfincludes-.a- Wrap.` ping.lmadimounted:toA rotate about. said pipe -iand to. apply-'overlapping layersof`4 Wrappingmateirial thereto, and .in which the: drive. connection to thelfwrapping head includes Ian'.in11:1itely variable-.- speedr` transmission :for varying :the speed'of the headindependently ofithe rateoflinearrtravel of the Lmachine imparted: by :the traction Wheels land'. a.A manual. control for. said. transmission located. adjacent tol `said f Wrapping zhead.

4. .In' appipe 'Wrapping machine of xthe. character described; a.: carriage.v arrangedl for.v the. relative travel; of; theY pipev and. carriage linearlyy of; the

:piper a .carrier of pipewrapping material mount.-

ed: on the? carriage for travel in a. circular-'path aroundthe pipe.' to applyY a helicalwrap )incident to.l the circular' travel simultaneously With rela.- tive' linear. travel, a. tractionfwheel mountedn on thea-carriageI totrack on therpipefor effecting relative linear travel, a source of power, apower divider receiving drive-from saidipowe-r source, drivef transmitting means connecting the; power divider. through one ,path Withtheftraction :Wheel and through another path with the pipe wrapping material carrier, said; means through.; the.v last mentioned path including a. variable. speed motiontransmitting. device'ioperable at .will tol change the-rate of. carrier travel1i1r-re1ation'to-the rate off'relative/lineantravel and thereby regulate .the spacing ofi successive Wrapping, and-a" manual control for said device. adjacent vtheA positioni of the carrier.`

5; A'machine' for applyinglprotective materials to pipe comprising, a frame, traction: wheels mountedi on .said iframe -r for; driving. engagement with ftheapipe, ,means-:connected to .said-frame v`for applyingprotective coatingmaterials to said pipe, andfpower means:mountedon said frame and connected to l drive'fsa-id protective materials ape plying,means yandnsaid :traction wheels,v said cma terialsapplying means includingawrapping head rotatable. aboutvsaid pipe to applyv overlapping layers-of. wrapping.- materials: thereto, the: drive connection to saidfhead including an infinitely variable speed transmission and a-.control handle therefor: operatable. at Will iindependently4 of i the drive connectionr to said.v traction. Wheels and .located adj acenttotsaid Wrapping, head, said .ernaterialsf applying means also including a hollow shoe extending around said pipe and having a liquidinlet into -thetop of said shoe, said mate.- rials applying; means also includinga pump to supply liquid. through saidinlet into said shoe to lcoatfsaidspipe, cable means thavingA a .resilient portion therein and' .beingconnected to said shoe at onel end, a. drum'journalled in said frame, a ratchet. and pawlmeans cooperating.V with said drum, the other endof said cablemeans being connectedlto said drum, handle means-toxrotate said'drum-to tighten saidshoe inyieldablylocked engagement with said pipe, and draft means connecting f said Yshoe to said frame.v

References Cited, in the fileofv this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,126 Herschel July 12, 1881 1,501,028 Guay July 8, 1924 1,512,560 Moore Oct. 21, 1924 2,041,33'7 Harrison May 19, 1936 2,253,848 Cummings Aug. 26,` 1941 2,340,326 Horrigan Feb. 1, 1944 2,344,264 Perrault Mar. 14, 1944 2,359,751 Cummings et al.r Oct; 10, 1944 2,373,638 Perkinsl Apr. 10, 194-5 2,583,819 Cummings Jan; 29, 1952 

